Page 18 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

William J Hambleton, who was a master bread baker took over William Chambers at 4
Market Place.

1919
Wokingham’s celebration of the Armistice concluded with a meal in Langborough Recreation
Ground. A line of 16 tables had been prepared on the promenade under the trees across the
ground and were decorated with flowers, etc. The Wokingham Fire Brigade with their engine
cooked the vegetables. The meal comprised cold meat, meat pies, salad, pickles, fruit tarts,
jam tarts, jellies, cheese, etc. with beer and lemonade in abundance.

The Crown public house at 29 Peach Street got its last mention.
1920

The associated photograph, c 1920, shows the Embrook Stores during a promotion for
Lipton's tea. The proprietor, Mr. Edward Farnell, is standing in the doorway with his son Eric.
Mr. Farnell was also the local sub-postmaster.

John Lapper who was running a tripe dresser shop at 10 Market Place was now known as a
pork butcher. The business closed after his death in 1923.

1923
Howard Palmer died this year. Although best known for his involvement at the Reading
biscuit factory, Huntly and Palmers, he took a great interest in agriculture, especially in the
breeding of pigs, His stock at Stokes Farm, Wokingham, had earned a name for itself at
every show of note in England. Mr. Palmer reared many remarkable Berkshire pigs, and
probably won more prizes with his animals than any other Berkshire pig breeder.
Ferguson Ltd took over Daniel Heron’s Wine Vaults at 22 Market Place and was also a spirit
merchant and remained there until 1968. It is now Ladbrookes.

1924
Mrs. Edith Drinkwater took over the grocer at 12 Market Place, having previously been
running a grocers in Peach Street.
The Plough public house in London Road opened but it had been a beerhouse since 1840.

1925
During this time, a regular visitor to the streets of Wokingham was the “Muffin Man”. He had
muffins and crumpets piled up in a wooden tray sitting on a cushion on his head. He would
ring a bell and call out “ Muffins and Crumpets”.

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